Diaper Need Awareness Week 2017

Diaper Need Awareness Week is an initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) created to mobilize efforts to help make a difference in the lives of the nearly 5.2 million babies in the U.S. aged three or younger who live in poor or low-income families.

Diaper need is a silent crisis in the United States. Diapers are a basic need for children, as essential to their health and well-being as food and shelter. Research shows that one in three low-income families do not have the diapers they need to keep babies clean, dry and healthy. Government assistance programs, including food stamps and WIC, do not provide funding for diapers, which can cost as much as $100/month.

Hurricane Harvey recently dramatically increased local diaper need. Many families across Galveston County lost everything in the storm. In those first days afterward, many stores were closed and goods were hard to come by, even if one had transportation. Numerous shelters and distribution centers opened around the county to respond to the overwhelming need.

To quote Joanne Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network:

Disasters give rise to what I call situational poverty. A family that was once secure finds themselves with nothing but the clothes on their back. The organizations that will help that family get back on their feet – the food banks, the diaper banks, the shelters – are already in the community helping people who live in persistent poverty. Their ability to respond depends on how well their community supports them in ordinary times.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the NDBN and their founding sponsor, Huggies, millions of diapers have been shipped to areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Galveston Diaper Bank has done its best to help coordinate those efforts here in Galveston County, thanks to the assistance of Joe Manchaca of Satellite Logistics and Karl Wankowicz of the League City Harvey Relief Donation Center.

As a proud member of NDBN, the Galveston Diaper Bank partners with local organizations to provide diapers through parenting classes, job training, and education programs. Thanks to generous grants from the Moody Foundation and Moody Permanent Endowment Fund, we began a new program this year, Diapers for Daycare, providing diapers and wipes to the babies and toddlers of low income families enrolled in Galveston daycare centers.

As we celebrate our fourth anniversary, we thank the many members of our community for your support. We also received generous funding from the First Presbyterian Outreach Fund and the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund; and contributions from members of our community too numerous to mention. You all have our undying gratitude.

Please join us at Chili’s, 501 Seawall Blvd., on 23 September 2017, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., for our Pancake Breakfast, courtesy of Chili’s, with bacon, milk and OJ provided by Target. $8.00 per person buys a wonderful breakfast! For information about helping with our efforts to end diaper need, please contact Kathy Modzelewski at galvestondiaperbank@gmail.com.